Guwahati: Development of sports and emergence of international athletes like Hima Das in Assam is bringing about the need for sports law and management professionals, according to senior fellow, Melbourne Law Masters at University of Melbourne, Professor Hayden Opie AM here on Wednesday.

Prof Opie is in the city for a national workshop on sports law and management at Gau-hati University on Saturday.

The workshop is being sponsored by the Bar Council of India and organised by University Law College, Gauhati University, jointly with Studio Nilima: Collaborative Network for Research and Capacity Building.

Judges and sports organisers will deliver talks on regulation and governance of sports, disciplinary proceedings related to on-field and off-field conduct of players, methods and procedures available to resolve selection disputes, integrity in sports, match manipulation, on-field safety, role of sponsors, broadcasters, and agents in the sports ecosystem, among others.

Professor Opie, who teaches and researches in all areas of sports law, will deliver the keynote address on the need of sports law studies in the curriculum of universities.

"It is important for sportspersons to know how to behave on and off the field. India is emerging as a major pool of talent in sports. There is room for sports other than cricket. The rights of players should be protected. There should be good governance. There will be a need for lawyers and sports administrators to understand the legal principles that apply to these areas if Indian sports are to succeed. National and state sports federations need to appoint lawyers in-house in their organisations to apply protocols on doping, match-fixing and on conduct which sportspersons have to follow. I am here to contribute towards spreading the information," the professor said.

A six-month certificate course on sports law is being introduced in the university from the next academic session through the efforts of Studio Nilima director and former Gauhati High Court judge Justice B.P. Kataki and senior advocate Nilay Dutta, along with the university authorities. A yearlong diploma course is also on the cards.

Dutta said sports law experts are required to guide players, draw up contracts and manage sponsorship deals for athletes like Hima Das.

Senior advocate and chairman of executive committee in the Bar Council of India Apurba Kumar Sharma and other dignitaries were present at the announcement.